Spain - The outbreak of World War I: causes and generators

Abstract

In your book you are going to get information about World War I: causes, outbreak and evolution of the conflict, stages, end of war and peace treaties, consequences, etc.

The Great War is the result of a complex interrelation of economic causes (Industrial growth and control of commerce), political and territorial causes (territory demands and colonial rivalry), ideological causes (strong nationalist feelings), diplomatic and military causes (creation of alliances and weapons race), which produce a growing atmosphere of tension in Europe since the end of the nineteenth century.

The report of events of the war usually starts with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Sarajevo, in June 1914. From then on, the following declarations of war among countries, being in favour of either one or other side in conflict, lead to a war of proportions unknown until that moment.

But, could the war have been avoided? Which countries had the greatest responsibility for the outbreak of the conflict, and why? About to reach a century of its beginning, historians from different countries reflect on these questions. The analysis of different points of view enables us to get an open and critical view about the reasons which caused it.

This module will let you approach some of these views about the outbreak of the Great War through the study of articles which are published in history magazines like those you can find at any newsagent’s, but from different countries. You will be able to study this topic through the documents and activities proposed in this module, or with the help of your teacher, who is also offered some suggestions to propose this topic in the classroom. Go through this module tabs in the student view to access the contents and activities which have been prepared for you.